“The Kids Aren’t Alright: And Neither Is the World They Inherited”: “A grumpy old man’s guide to what the hell went wrong and why it’s not just nostalgia talking.”

Yes, society is changing but not in the way we hoped. While boomers are blamed, and Gen Z gets therapy for being alive, crime, drugs, disrespect, and digital addiction are exploding. Kids as young as 12 are committing murder, social media is raising the next generation, and mental health services can’t keep up. Is this progress? Or are we spiralling in a dopamine-soaked decline disguised as “modern life”?
This book pulls no punches. It’s for anyone who’s been told to “adapt or shut up” but can still see clearly enough to ask: Where’s this all going?They call us grumpy old men. Bitter. Out of touch. Obsessed with “back in my day” stories and allergic to change. And maybe there’s some truth to that. But let me ask you this:Are we really grumpy… or are we just honest in a world that’s gone mad?
Because if you’re paying any attention at all, it’s hard not to notice that something’s seriously off. Kids are killing each other before they hit puberty. Drugs are stronger, younger, and everywhere. Respect once the price of entry into any civilised interaction has been replaced by entitlement, outrage, and “likes.” And mental health? It’s become the new pandemic. Only this time, there’s no vaccine just pills, TikToks, and identity labels. Each generation blames the last.Boomers blame millennials. Millennials blame boomers. Gen Z blames everyone, and Gen Alpha is still learning how to spell. But as the blame gets passed around like a hot potato game, the actual problems keep growing.
This isn’t just about “kids these days.” It’s about the world we’ve all created or allowed to decay. It’s about what happens when culture forgets its soul, when technology outpaces wisdom, and when everyone’s too afraid to speak hard truths because someone might get offended or triggered. So no, I won’t be sugar-coating anything. I’m not here to rant. I’m here to reflect honestly, directly, and with a dash of dry humour on what went wrong, why we’re here, and whether there’s a way back. If that makes me a grumpy old man, then fine. Pass me my skinny latte, but don’t expect me to shut up.